A plea seeking the transfer of the case relating to alleged bribing of voters in the R.K. Nagar Assembly constituency bypoll to the CBI was filed in the Madras High Court on Thursday.
Filing an additional affidavit, advocate M.P. Vairakkannan sought the transfer of the case from the Abhiramapuram police to the CBI as the State police comes under one of the portfolios held by the Chief Minister.
“Hence, if the investigation is conducted by the Tamil Nadu State police, proper and fair investigation cannot be expected and the investigation will be under the influence of the Tamil Nadu ministers,” he submitted.
Mr. Vairakkannan had earlier filed a petition seeking a direction to the Election Commission to file an FIR against Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and others who are alleged to have been involved in the electoral malpractices.
The court, on June 14, passed an interim order directing the Joint Commissioner of Police, Chennai (East), S. Manoharan to monitor the investigation.
On Thursday, the petitioner said that the State police officials, being subordinates, cannot independently examine the ministers as accused persons. “They will not issue summons calling upon the minister to come to the police station for an inquiry. Hence, the inquiry will be a farce,” the petitioner said.
He further said the I-T report had indicated that an FIR would be filed against certain ministers. But as on date, their names were not included.
